Some incoming international students to Pratt already hold active F-1 immigration status from another U.S. school, through currently studying or engaging in post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT). If you currently hold F-1 status, you may be eligible for I-20 Transfer to Pratt.
In this case, you should contact your current sponsoring school’s Designated School Official (DSO)/International Student Office to request I-20 Transfer to Pratt. Provide the DSO a copy of your Pratt admission letter and give them the correct school code below.
SEVIS Transfer School Codes
Pratt Institute – Brooklyn NYC214F00775000
Pratt Institute – Manhattan NYC214F00775001
Pratt Munson (Munson Williams Proctor) – Utica BUF214F10380000
You will need to decide and set the transfer “Release Date” with your former school’s DSO. On the Release Date, your record will transfer to Pratt electronically. OIA can only start working on your Transfer I-20 AFTER the Release Date. Students engagine in OPT with your other school should be aware that any approved OPT ends on the Release Date. Also, if you are traveling internationally in the summer, you will need the Transfer I-20 from Pratt to re-enter the US, unless you wish to continue working on OPT upon return. Please make sure to discuss with your current school DSO about your plans and decide the Transfer Release Date together.
When you have set your Release Date with your current DSO, please provide your SEVIS ID and Release Date in the Transfer section of your Pratt I-20 request in the OIA Student Portal. After the Release Date, we will work to issue a Transfer I-20. It will have the same SEVIS number and you will not need to pay the SEVIS fee again. With a Transfer I-20, you will maintain continuous F-1 status with the same SEVIS ID and you will not need to repay the SEVIS I-901 fee. In this case you are theoretically eligible for Practical Training (like CPT) in your first academic year, though most programs do not offer an internship class at that time.
If your current SEVIS record is not in active status, please request a New I-20 with a new SEVIS ID for you to regain your status. If you do not transfer your SEVIS record and you request an New I-20 from Pratt instead, you will get an I-20 with a new SEVIS number. You will have to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee for the new I-20, enter the U.S. to gain status on the new I-20, and your eligiblity for practical training will begin after one academic year.